Projectable nozzle lawn sprinkler



S p H. J. M c. BURDICK 2,611,644

PROJECTABLE NOZZLE LAWN SPRINKLER Filed July 25, 1949 2 SHEETS SHEE'I llldlllllh HIIIIW H- J. MQC. BURDICK PROJECTABLE NOZZLE LAWN SPRINKLERSept. 23, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed July 25, 1949 J a u w h y s M E 6W n w l a v 4 2 n 5 Q n. W 3 3 Q u 5.. II 7 4 & M. L

3 a z 2 w 6 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 23,1952

' UN [TED-1ST ATEiS PATENT OFFICE rnojnoriini nnozzrn LAWN gram Harry J;McCombsBui-dick, Anaheim, Calif.

' Application fiat-g5, 1949, Sean No. 106,688

, This invention relates to lawn sprinklers of the type in which thesprinkler nozzles not only are caused torotate by the pressure of thestream of water discharging therefrom, butin which the nozzles are bythe pressure of the flowing water advanced to a positioniator'abovethesurrounding ground level, while the' -inaior portion of the deviceremains'below the ground-level "In such devices onefof the internmentproblems is so to designIa sprinklerhead that little soil or' otherforeign matter will enter the device during and betweenoperations'thereoff, I if With a view to solve this serious'fproblemyit' is the general object of myinvention to provide asprinkler head of the type referred't'o in which the nozzles and all themechanismsconnected therewith is seated within; and 'removable'fro'n' fa casing which remains permanently fined inthe resisting entrance of"soilground to form a'guard and grit into the'sprinkler mechanism;

A further object of the invention is to provide a device including suchcasing fromwhich'th'e; sprinkler mechanism may be 'quickly' and easily?removed as a single unit or in complementary sub-unitswithout'disturbing the positionoffthe casing. mechanism in whichevery'sible-for cleaning or replacement.

It is a further objectof the invention-to vide a sprinkler mechanism inwhich is'provided means for preventing back flowof water themO ment thewater supply is turned oiii, Another object is to provide meanswherebyfiow of water: through any p-articularsprinkler head'of an'ir?rigating system may be adjusted to equalize the;

new of water through all the nozzles of the system orentirely cut off.This is of particular im--' portance where the ground to be'ji'rrigatedisuneven or sloping and the spij'inkler, heads for this reason are setat difierentelevation's Another object is to provide asp-rinklerinyzhich thejheads 1 will recede into the casing the momentthe waterf sprinkler heads are tilted to conform. to the angle of ih'j-fclination of the ground surface. A still further object is to provide asprinkler headwhichfis is turned oif even in'cases wherethe 11 Claims.(01. 299*61) Another object is "to provide a sprinkler;

part is readily" acc'es In the drawings: i

, Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the device of my invention as itappears whenseated in the ground, as in practice;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device itself, on a larger scaleand with some of the inner portions thereof only partly in section inorder more clearly to illustrateimpo-rtant features thereof; d

Fig. 3 is a substantially corresponding plan viewer the device with aportion of the cover thereof broken away for thesake of clearness;Fig.1} shows the inner mechanism of the device as it appears whenremoved fromthe outer casing thereof; and i Fig. 5 is a bottom view ofthe mechanism shown in Fig; 4;

*The device of m invention, in the form illus- I hated in the drawings,includes a, cylindrical casing [terminating at the bottom of aninterannular surface 5 of a size to receive thereon a,

circular partition 6 which is designedto form a H water-tight closurebetween the space 8 above and the chamber 9 below the plate. The mannerin which this plate is clamped in position will be'hereinafter fullydescribed. At the present moment, it should be suflicient to point outthat the partition includes a downwardly directed designed andconstructed to preventbreakage off parts thereof in case themoyement'ofthe noz, zles should be checked'due to seizing or stickingWith these and other objects view the. invention resides in combinationshereinafterde scribed in detail and reference .is' invitedltotheaccompanying..drawings in which apreferred:

of supporting parts thereof.

form'of the invention is illustrated.

sleeve 7 which forms a guide for correctly seatingthis part. The casingis proportioned as above described, in order to receive therein therotatable and axially movable nozzle head assembIy of the invention..This assembly is, as 40 best indicated in Fig. 3, fitted at the topwith a circular plate I 0, the outer rim H of which is shown downwardlyand inwardly tapered to ride onia. beveled seat 12 within the top rim ofthe upper casing portion 4. The central part of this plate is showndownwardly extended to form 'a pendent boss 13, to the bottom surface ofwhich is rigidly secured a hollow, cylindrical nozzle supportmember I 4.As best shown in Fig. 2, this member has, in the bottom wall thereof, acentral threaded perforation 15, of a size to receive therein. a tubularmember l6 which, for convenience of description, hereinafter sometimesis-referred to as the riser of the nozzle head assembly. I

Co-axial with and snugly fitted for rotatory as well as axial movementwithin the central chamber 9 of the casing is a cylindrical containercom means of a series of bolts 23. From the top plate member and theyare laterally inclined or curved to form with the member the rotorassembly of the device. Axially rising through the rotor assembly is astub shaft 34 and this shaft is rigidly maintained clamped in positionwithin the member by means of a nut 35 engaging the threaded end of theshaft. In the upper end of the shaft is a coaxial shaft 29 seated torotate and it-is secured within the boss 24- 'A gear pinion 36 isrigidly secured to the shaft 3.4.and it is, through a conventional trainof planetary speed reducing gears 37, .operatively connected with agear38 of thefshaft 29, near the top thereof, to rotate the boss 24, theriser i5 and the nozzle head assembly at extremely slow speed.

From the foregoing brief: description, it should be'clear to anyonefamiliar with the art that the entire sprinkler head assembly is free torotate and to rise axially within the casing. It follows that, when thewater is turned on in the irrigation pipe system, pressure of the waterwill force the assembly upward, thereby to unseat the valve 31 and toallow-the water to flow past the vanes 33 of the rotor which, by thepressure of the onrushing water is caused -to rotate and quickly toattain high speed or rotation. The rising water passes through a seriesof passages 40, through the, overhanging peripheral flanges of the topand bottom plates 20, 2|, from whence it flows through openings 4| inthe wall of the riser IE, to flow through the latter into the nozzlesupport member 14'; finally to discharge through nozzles 42, 43., Thewater pressure continues to elevate the sprinkler head until a part ofthe transmission assembly, or the screen 48, moves into contact with aportion of the'partition 8, by friction to maintain the cylindrical gearcontainer unturned during sprinkling operations. Should, however, in thecourse of time enough foreign matter find its way into the casing tosettle below the nozzle support l4 and in the bearing between thepartition 6 and the member [6 to retard or stop rotation of thenozzleassembly, then the pressure. exerted by the impellerv memberthrough the reduction gears against the gear container will cause thecontainer to rotate. The pressure,.which otherwise might be sufficientto shear the cotter key 25 or otherwise to damage the mechanism, isthereby relieved.

It is noticed that the upper end of the riser I6 is closed by a valve 53which must be raised from its seat in order to provide free passage forthe water to the nozzles in the manner which will be hereinafterdescribed in detail.

Notches 44, 45 are sunk into the periphery of the top plate 10 and theyare, in accordance with the present day sprinkler practice, proportionedevenly to distribute the spray over the space to be irrigated. Toillustrate this important point, the notch 44 is relatively shallow andis placed in axial alignment with the passage through the nozzle 42. Thenotch 45 is out much deeper and a slot 46 is cut into the upper cornerof the nozzle 42 to provide an upwardly directed outlet for waterdischarging through the nozzle. The result being that some of thedischarging water rises through the inner portion of the notch 45 on ashorter curve to irrigate the area nearer the sprinkler head, whereasthe water discharging axially'through the nozzle 43 passes on a longer,flatter curve to the outer portions of the area.

i It is believed that the foregoing description of the operation of thedevice should be sufficient to enable one conversant with the art todesign and construct the device of the invention. In addition, it shouldbe mentioned that, according to present day engineering practice, meansshould be embodied for screening out all grit and other foreignsubstances from the water before it flows into the nozzles. Illustrativeof such means, I have shown a conically shaped screen 48 rising from thetop plate 20 of the rotor to the pendent sleeve 1 of the plate 6. It mayalso be found advantageous to place a sealing ring 49 on the riser IE tocontact the under surface of this plate, when the nozzle head assemblyreaches its uppermost position duringirrigation operations, so to form awater seal between the chamber 9 and the space within the nozzle supportl4.

Experience has taught me that, cases where sprinkler headsare placed atdifferent elevations, as requiredto irrigate uneven or sloping ground,once the supply has been turned off, the water remaining in the higherportions of the system will flow back through the sprinkler heads at thelower portion of the system to form pools or to causesoil erosion aboutthese lower sprinkler heads. Also that a considerable amount of more orless gritty soil becomes stirred up in these pools, gradually to settlewithin the sprinkler heads, often to cause considerable damage there-This condition is often so serious that it becomes necessary to removethe entire sprinkler head for cleaning after each irrigation. In-orderto prevent such occurrences and so as to eliminate frequently recurringcleaning operations, I have provided the valve 3i which will becomeseated the moment the water supply is cut off and the sprinkler headassembly instantthrough the sprinkler head of my invention. To

this end, a recess 50 is sunk into the top plate H) of the assembly anda passage 5| leads from this recess through the bottom of the plate andthe upper wall of the member 14 in axial align ment with the riser IS. Abolt 52 is seated in threads of this passage and it is fitted at thebottom thereof with a conical valve 53. A valve seat 54 is sunk into thetop of the riser l6 of'a size to receive this valve, thereby to checkbackflow into the chamber 9. This valve, which in Fig. 2 is shownclosed, is in order to prepare the device for the sprinkling operationfirst manual- 1y elevated sufficiently not only to provide clearance forthe rising movement of the assembly but also to remain a sufficientdistance above the fully elevated assembly to insure free pas,- sage forthe stream of water flowing through the assembly. But when the valveismanually 5 closed, as indicated in Fig. 2, it will effectively preventbackflow through even the uppermost sprinkler heada In addition,'it maybe found advantageous to mount an annular flanged?) on and as part ofthe plate 6 in close proximity to I the outer periphery of the nozzlesupport-M. With this flange in place, a considerable amount of grit maygradually over a long period of time accumulate within the spacesurrounding the flange before it becomes necessary to remove theassembly from the casing for cleaning.

In the types of projectable nozzle sprinkler heads'which have come to mynotice, no single nozzleassembly is provided, but each part orsub-assembly of the mechanism must be 'removed separatelyin'order'effectively to perform the cleaning-operation; The nozzle headassembly of the present device eliminates such "laborious operations.'When it"is found necessary or advisable to clean out the upper chamber3, it is merely required to remove the screws 59 which clamp the'topplate H! in position on the nozzle support and then to remove thisplate.

' The partition 6 is designed for quick and convenient withdrawal topermit removal of the assembly as a whole. To this end an'annular rib 60is made to project inwardly from the casing wall a short distance abovethe partition support surface 5 and a series of equidistantly. spacednotches 6i arecut through this rib. The partition 6 is made withsimilarly spaced radially directed projections 62' of asizetopassthrough these notches and bya slight rotation of the partition toslide under'the rib 66. In practice, a suitable spanner wrench is pushedthrough the top'plate notches M, 45 and caused to enter the twodiametrically opposite recesses 26, 21 oithe partition 6 which appearthrough these notches. If none appear, it is merely required slightly toturn the top plate I0 and proper alignment is obtained. The wrench isthen operated to move the projections 62 into registration with thenotches Bl. The entire assembly may then be lifted out of the casingleaving the latter entirely open for cleaning.

- It was above stated that the cotter key 25 ties the gear casing to theriser [5. Upon withdrawal of this key, the entire lower portion of theassembly may be withdrawn from the upper part thereof for removal andcleaning of the screen 48 and such further servicing as may be required.And it is important to note that, during such removal operations anduntil'reseating is effected, the casing remains undisturbedin'the groundto bar entrance therein of dirt and grit. i

From the foregoing detailed description, it is seen that I have provideda very compact and conveniently operable sprinkler head. Particularly,it is to be noted that the device, as illustrated in the drawings, isconsiderable lower than any other of the same type that has come to mynotice. When it is considered that the depth to which it is required todig to install the sprinkler system depends upon the height ofthesprinkler head, this becomes an important featureof the invention;

While under ordinary condition, where the sprinkler head is verticallymounted, it is found that the nozzle head assembly will instantly-returnto bottom valve closing position when the sprinkler head within thecasing and to impart insure complete seating of the valve 31 while thesystem remains dormant. 5

While I have in the foregoing described a preferred form of theinvention, it will be understood-that I reserve the right to embodytherein modificationswithin the scope of the claims hereto appended. I5 1. In a lawn sprinkler, a cylindrical casing openat the't'op andhaving at thebottom afcoaxial-water inlet shaped to form avalve seat, asprinkler head seated in the casing 'for axial movement therein andremovable therefrom" as a whole, said sprinkler head comprisingfajrotorhaving a valve at the bottom thereof normally in contact 'with the valveseat of the waterinlet, a coaxial nozzle support rotatable on said rotorbut locked in position thereon against relativeaxial movement, andtransmission gearing ex,- ten din g from the rotor to the nozzlesupport, water pressure causing the inlet valve to rise from its seatsimultaneously to elevate the sprinkler head within the casing and toimpart rotation to said rotor thereby through said gearing to rotate thenozzle support at a reduced rate of speed. v s V 2. In a lawn sprinkler,a cylindrical casing open at the top and having at the bottom a co-'axial water inlet shapedto form a valve seat, a

sprinkler head seated'in the. casing for axial movement therein andremovable therefrom as a whole, manually releasable means for lockingthe sprinkler head against removal from the easing, said sprinkler headcomprising, a rotor having a valve at the bottom thereof normally incontact with the valve seat of the water inlet, a coaxial nozzlesupport'rotatable on said rotor but locked in position thereon againstrelative axial movement, and transmission gearing ex-' tending from therotor to thenozzle support,

water pressure causing the inlet valve to rise from its seatsimultaneously to elevate the rotation to said rotor thereby throughsaid gear ing to rotate the nozzle supportata reduced rate of speed.

3. In a lawn sprinkler, a cylindrical casing open, at the top and'havingat the bottom a coaxial water inlet shaped to form a valve seat, asprinkler head seated in the casing for axial movement therein andremovable therefrom as a whole, said sprinkler head comprising, a rotorhaving a valve at the bottom thereof normally in'contact with the valveseat of the water inlet,

causing the inlet valve to rise from its seat' against the tension ofsaid resilient means simultaneously to elevate the sprinkler headwithinthe casing and to impart rotation to said rotor water supply isturned on; it becomes necessary I thereby through said gearing to rotatethe nozzle support at a reduced rate of speed.

4. In a lawn sprinkler, a cylindrical casing open at the top and havingat the bottom a coaxial'water inlet shaped to form a valve seat,-

contact withthe valve seat of the water inlet,-

a coaxial nozzle support rotatable on said rotor but locked in positionthereon against relative axial movement, transmission gearing extendingfrom the rotor to the nozzle support, water pressure causingthe inletvalve to rise from its seat simultaneously to elevate the sprinkler headwithin the casing and to impart rotation, to said rotor thereby throughsaid gearing to rotate the nozzle support at a reduced rate of speed,and means tightly enclosing said gearing, said means being normally freeto rotate within the casing and held against rotation therein byfrictional engagement with said locking means when the sprinkler head isfully elevated. I

5. In a lawn sprinkler, a cylindrical casing open at the top and havingat the bottom a coaxial water inlet shaped to form a valve seat, asprinkler head seated in the casing for axial movement therein andremovable therefrom as a whole, said sprinkler head comprising, a rotorhaving a valve at the bottom thereof normally in contact with the valveseat of the water inlet, a coaxial nozzle support rotatable on saidrotor but locked in position thereon against relative axial movement,upwardly and outwardly directed nozzles seated in said support, acircular plate on the support normally closing the top of the casing,said plate having notches in the periphery thereof in alinement with thenozzle axes, and transmission gearing extending from the rotor to thenozzle support, water pressure causing the inlet valve to rise from itsseat simultaneously to elevate the sprinkler head within the casing andto impart rotation to said rotor thereby through said gearing to rotatethe nozzle support at a reduced rate of speed.

6. In a lawn sprinkler, a cylindrical casing open at the top and havingat the bottom a coaxial water inlet shaped to form a valve seat, asprinkler head seated in the casing for axial movement therein andremovable therefrom as a whole, said sprinkler head comprising, a rotorhaving a valve at the bottom thereof normally in contact with the valveseat of the water inlet, a coaxial nozzle support rotatable on saidrotor but locked in position thereon against relative axial movement,transmission gearing extending from the rotor to the nozzle support,water pressure causing the inlet valve to rise from its seatsimultaneously to elevate the sprinkler head within the casing and toimpart rotation to said rotor thereby through said gearing to rotate thenozzle support at a reduced rate of speed, a valve seat in the nozzlesupport, and a valve for said seat, said valve being manually operablefrom above the nozzle support to adjust and entirely to shut oil theflow through the sprinkler head.

7. In a lawn sprinkler, a cylindrical casing open at the top and havingat the bottom a coaxial water inlet shaped to form a valve seat, asprinkler head seated in the casing for axial movement therein andremovable therefrom as a whole, said sprinkler head comprising, a rotorhaving a valve at the bottom thereof normally in contact with the valveseat of the water inlet, a coaxial nozzle support rotatable on saidrotor but locked in position thereon against relative axial movement,upwardly and outwardly directed nozzles seated in said support, acircular plate on the support normally closing the top of the casing,said plate having notches in the periphery thereof in alinement with thenozzle axes, transmission gearing extending from the rotor to the nozzlesupport, Water pressure causing the inlet valve to rise from its seatsimulw taneously to elevat the sprinkler head within the casing and toimpart rotation to said rotor thereby through said gearing to rotate thenozzle support at a reduced rate of speed, a valve seat in said nozzlesupport, and a valve for engagement with said seat, the valve having athreaded stem rising therefrom seated in a threaded aperture of supportfor manual movement to move the valve to adjust and entirely to shut offthe flow through the sprinkler head.

8. In a lawn sprinkler, a cylindrical casing open at the top and havingat the bottom a coaxial water inlet shaped to form a valve seat, asprinkler head seated in the casing for axial movement therein andremovable therefrom as a whole, said sprinkler head comprising, a rotorhaving a valve at the bottom thereof normally in contact with the valveseat of the water inlet, a coaxial stem rising from the rotor, a shaftin continued axial alinement with said stem, a gear rigid on the stem, agear rigidly secured to the shaft, a train of reducing gears operativelyinterconnecting the two gears, a coaxial nozzle support riding on saidshaft, and means for interlocking said support with the said shaft,water pressure causing the inlet valve to rise from its seatsimultaneously to elevate the sprinkler head within the casing and toimpart rotation to the rotor thereby through said gearing to rotate'thenozzle support at reduced speed.

9. In a lawn sprinkler, a cylindrical casing open at the top and havingat the bottom a coaxial water inlet shaped to form a valve seat, asprinkler head seated in the casing for axial movement therein andremovable therefrom as a whole, said sprinkler head comprising, a rotorhaving a valve at the bottom thereof normally in contact with the valveseat of the water inlet, a coaxial stem rising from the rotor, a shaftin continued axial alinement with said stem, a gear rigid on the stem, agear rigidly secured to the shaft, a train of reducing gears operativelyinterconnecting the two gears, a coaxial nozzle support riding on saidshaft, a closure for said gears riding on said stem and shaft, and meansfor interlocking said support with the said shaft, water pressurecausing the inlet valve to rise from its seat simultaneously to elevatethe sprinkler head within the casing and to impart rotation to the rotorthereby through said gearing to rotate the nozzle support at reducedspeed.

10. In a lawn sprinkler, a cylindrical casing open at the top and havingat the bottom a coaxial water inlet shaped to form a valve seat, asprinkler head seated in the casing for axial movement therein andremovable therefrom as a whole, said sprinkler head comprising, a rotorhaving a valve at the bottom thereof normally in contact with the valveseat of the water inlet, a coaxial stem rising from the rotor, a shaftin continued axial alinement with said stem, a gear rigid on the stem, agear rigidly secured to the shaft, a train of reducing gears operativelyinterconnecting the two gears, a coaxial nozzle support riding on saidshaft, means for interlocking said support with the said shaft, waterpressure causing the inlet valve to rise from its seat simultaneously toelevate the sprinkler head within the casing and to impart rotation tothe rotor thereby through said gearing to rotate the nozzle support atreduced speed, and a screen between said closure and the said nozzlesupport.

11. In a lawn sprinkler, a cylindrical casing open at the top and havingat the bottom a coaxial water inlet shaped to form a valve seat,

a sprinkler head seated in the casing for axial movement therein andremovable therefrom as a whole, said sprinkler head comprising, a rotorhaving a valve at the bottom thereof normally in contact with the valveseat of the water inlet, a coaxial stem rising from the rotor, a shaftin continued axial alinement with said stem, a

gear rigid on the stem, a gear rigidly secured to the shaft, a train ofreducing gears operatively interconnecting the two gears, a coaxialnozzle support riding on said shaft, means for interlocking said supportwith the said shaft, water pressure causing the inlet valve to rise fromits seat simultaneously to elevate the sprinkler head within the casingand to impart rotation to the rotor thereby through said gearing torotate the 10 nozzle support at reduced speed, a screen betweeri saidclosure and said nozzle support, and resilient means urging thesprinkler head downward to seat the inlet valve on its seat.

HARRY J. MCCOMBS BURDICK.

REFERENCES CITED The fcllowing references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITE-"D STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,425,191 Garbarini Aug. 3,1922 1,753,841 Thompson Apr. 8, 1930 1,853,805 Elder Apr. 12, 19321,970,126 Buckner Aug. 14, 1934

